Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B10/00—Drill bits
  • E21B10/26—Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers
  • E21B10/32—Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers with expansible cutting tools

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a drilling tool suitable for increasing the diameter of a well bore.
• US 4,589,504 discloses a well bore enlarger comprising a tubular cylindrical housing provided with three cutting arms, said cutting arms pivoting with respect to the housing between a first position in which the arms are within the tubular housing and a second position in which the arms extends partly outside the tubular housing.
• the enlarger disclosed in said document is only suitable for one specific enlargement of the well bore and is not provided with a blocking means. When using an enlarger of the type disclosed in said document, it appears that due to vibration, the cutting elements are quickly damaged.
• the system for increasing the diameter of a well bore of the invention is a system having a high stability and even allowing to adapt continuously or substantially continuously the diameter of the well bore, without need to replace the enlarging tool.
• the invention relates to a system for increasing the diameter of at least a portion of a well bore, said system being intended to be attached to a drill pipe driven into rotation by a motor, said system comprising :
• each arm pivotably mounted on the support element around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body, while the second arm is pivotably mounted on the support around an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the first arm, each arm pivoting with respect to the support element between a first position in which the arm extends in the chamber and a second position in which at least a portion of the cutting means extends outside the chamber after passing through an opening of the body ; a blocking means provided with at least a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion, said means being mounted movable with respect to the body in the longitudinal direction of the body ; in which each arm when located in the chamber has at least one first face directed towards the longitudinal axis of the body and at least one second face directed opposite to the longitudinal axis of the body, in which the chamber
• the cutting arms are better maintained in position.
• the cutting arms are substantially clamped.
• the body is provided with - a first means pivotably mounted with respect to the body around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment of the first arm, said first means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face of the first arm at least when the first arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, and - a second means pivotably mounted with respect to the body around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment of the second arm, said second means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face of the second arm at least when the second arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position.
• the blocking means is provided with a first means pivotably mounted with respect to the blocking means around an axis parallel to the pivoting axis of the first arm, said first means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the first face of the first arm at least when the first arm is blocked partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, and a second means pivotably mounted with respect to the blocking means around an axis parallel to the axis of the second arm, said second means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the first face of the second arm at least when the second arm is blocked partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position.
• the second face of the first arm comprises a flat portion which is parallel to and contacts a third inclined face of the chamber when the first arm extends in its first position
• the second face of the second arm comprises a flat portion which is parallel to and contacts a fourth inclined face of the chamber when the second arm extends in its first position.
• the chamber of the body has a first face inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the body, said face acting as abutment for the second face of the first arm when extending in its second position, and a second face inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the body, said face acting as abutment for the second face of the second arm when extending in its second position.
• the body is provided with
• first means pivotably mounted with respect to the body around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment of the first arm, said first means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face of the first arm at least when the first arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, said flat surface forming an extension of the first face when the second face of the first arm abuts the first inclined face of the body, and - a second means pivotably mounted with respect to the body around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment of the second arm, said second means having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face of the second arm at least when the second arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, said flat surface forming an extension of the second inclined face of the body when the second face of the first arm abuts the second inclined face of the body.
• the first means pivotally mounted on the body is located between the first inclined face of the body and the third inclined face of the body, while the second means pivotally mounted on the body is located between the second inclined face of the body and the fourth inclined face of the body.
• the first means pivotally mounted on the body is located between the first inclined face of the body and the third inclined face of the body, while the second means pivotally mounted on the body is located between the second inclined face of the body and the fourth inclined face of the body, the inclination of the first and second inclined faces with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body being comprised between 60° and 90°, while the inclination of the third and fourth inclined faces with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body is comprised between 15 and 50°.
• the first arm has a protuberance with a lateral end face corresponding to a portion of the lateral face of a cylinder centered with respect to the axis of pivotment of the arm with respect to the support element
• the second arm has a protuberance with a lateral end face corresponding to a 0 portion of the lateral face of a cylinder centered with respect to the axis of pivotment of the second arm with respect to the support element
• the support element having a first recess in which the first protuberance extends and a second recess in which the second protuberance extends, said first recess having a face contacting at least partly the lateral end face of the protuberance of the first arm, 5 while said second recess has a face contacting at least partly the lateral end face of the protuberance of the second arm.
• the support element is provided with a central longitudinal passage in which a rod 0 extends, said rod bearing the blocking means.
• system further comprises :
• the means for controlling the movement of the support element can be operated electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, mechanically, etc. or with a system 0 combining a combination thereof.
• the control means comprises an indexer, which is for example actuated hydraulically, said indexer having advantageously several distinct positions, such as working position (cutting arms in position for a cutting operation), close position (cutting means extending in the chamber of the body), measuring position (position in which the maximum diameter formed by the arms is defined), adapting position (position in which the position of the arms is adapted).
• Said indexer is for example connected to a cylinder or jack actuating the movement of support element.
• This controlling means are given as example. It is obvious that the movement of the support element can be operated by other means, such as electrical means, for example by means of a motor driving into rotation an endless screw acting on a part of the support element.
• the invention relates also to a drill pipe provided with a system according to the invention.
• the invention further relates to a drilling process for increasing the diameter of at least a portion of a well bore, in which the drilling of the portion of the well bore which has to be increased is carried out by means of a drill provided with a system of the invention.
• Figure 1 is a schematic cross section view of a system of the invention with the cutting arms in a non working position ;
• Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 with the arms in cutting position ;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 2 with the release of the blocking means ;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 1 when the system is removed out of the well ;
• Figure 5 is a front view of the system of figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 is a back view of the system of figure 1 ;
• Figure 7 is a lateral view along the lines NII-NII of the system of figure 5 ;
• Figure 8 is a section view along the lines NIII-NIII of the system of figure 5 ;
• Figure 9 is a view of a pivoting means on which a face of an arm abuts ;
• Figure 10 is a cross section view along the lines X-X of the pivoting means of figure 9 ;
• Figure 11 is a view of an embodiment of a blocking means ;
• Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the blocking means of figure 11 ;
• Figure 13 is a lateral view of the blocking means of figure 11 ;
• Figure 14 is a view of a detail of the support element for the arms ;
• Figure 15 is an upper view of the element of figure 14 ;
• Figure 16 is a view of an arm provided with two rows of cutting means ;
• Figure 17 is a cross section view of the arm of figure 16 along the line XNII-XNII
• Figure 18 is a view of a first row of cutting means (line XNIII) ;
• Figure 19 is a view of a second row of cutting means (line XIX) ;
• Figure 20 is a view of a detail of an embodiment of a support for arms ;
• Figure 21 is an upper view of the support of figure 20 ;
• Figure 22 is a lateral view of the support of figure 20 ;
• Figure 23 is a schematic view of a control means with an indexer ;
• Figure 24 is a view of the indexer
• Figure 25 is a development view of the groove of the indexer ;
• Figures 26 and 27 are views similar to that of figure 23, with the indexer in different positions.
• the tool shown in figure 1 is a system 1 for increasing the diameter D of at least a portion of a well bore 2, said system 1 being attached to a drill pipe 3 (the end of the drill pipe being for example screwed in a screwed end of the system 1) , said system comprising :
• a longitudinal substantially cylindrical body 4 extending in a longitudinal direction (axis A-A corresponding substantially to the central axis of the well bore 2), said body 4 being provided with means 5 for attaching said body 4 to the drill pipe 3 and having at least one inner chamber 6 and two lateral openings 7,8 (opposite to each other, and symmetrical with respect to the axis A-A);
• a support element or carrier 10 mounted movable with respect to the body 4 in the longitudinal direction A-A of the body 4 (arrow X), said support element 10 comprising a first shaft 11 and a second shaft 12 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A-A of the body 4, said element 10 being located in the chamber 6 of the body 4, the shafts 11,12 being fixed and not movable with respect to the element 10; - two arms 13,14 provided with cutting means 15 (such as carbide elements, diamond, artificial diamond, etc.), a first arm 13 being pivotably mounted on the shaft 11 ( an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body - arrow Y), while the second arm 14 is pivotably mounted on the shaft 12 ( axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the first arm - arrow Z, each arm 13,14 pivoting with respect to the support element 10 between a first position in which the arm 13,14 extends in the chamber 6 (position of figures 1 and 4) and a second position in which at least a portion
• Each arm 13,14 when located in the chamber 6 has at least one first face 13A,14A (face bearing cutting means 15) directed towards the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 4 and at least one second face 13B,14B directed opposite to the longitudinal axis of the body or directed towards an opening 7,8.
• first face 13A,14A face bearing cutting means 15
• second face 13B,14B face bearing cutting means 15
• the faces 13A,14A are facing each other.
• the chamber 6 of the body 4 has a first face 19 inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction A-A of the body 4 (face adjacent to the upper end of the chamber), said face 19 acting as abutment for the second face 13B (more precisely for a portion of said face) of the first arm 13 when extending in its second position (figure 2), and a second face 20 inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction A-A of the body, said face 20 acting as abutment for the second face 14B (more precisely for a portion of said face) of the second arm 14 when extending in its second position (figure 2).
• the first abutment portion 17 has an abutment face parallel to the first face or a portion thereof 13 A of the first arm 13 when extending in its second position, while the second abutment portion 18 has an abutment face parallel to the first face of the second arm 14 when extending in its second position.
• Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a front view and a back view of the system or underreamer 1 shown in cross section in figure 1.
• the body 4 is provided with two grooves 21,22.
• An end of the shaft 11 of the arm 13 extends in the groove 21, while an end of the shaft 12 of the arm 14 extends in the groove 22. Said ends contact at least a face of the groove 21 ,22, so that when the drill pipe is rotated
• each shaft 10,11 has only one end inserted in a groove of the body so as to ensure that part of the effort or stresses is taken by the support 10.
• the shafts 11 and 12 are able to rotate (preferably substantially freely) with respect to the support 10, while the arms 13,14 are able to rotate (preferably substantially freely) respectively with respect to the shaft 11 and the shaft 12.
• Figure 7 is a lateral view along the lines NII-NII of figure 5, while figure 8 is a section view along the lines NIII-VIII of figure 5.
• the body is further provided with a first means 23 pivotably mounted with respect to the body around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment (the shaft 11) of the first arm 13, said first means 23 having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face 13B of the first arm 13 at least when the first arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, and a second means 24 pivotably mounted with respect to the body 4 around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment (shaft 12) of the second arm 14, said second means 24 having a flat surface adapted to contact a flat portion of the second face of the second arm 14 at least when the second arm extends partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position.
• Said means 23,24 have for example the shape of a rod 25 having a central portion 26 extending between the ends 27,28, said central portion 26 having a cross section corresponding to the half of the circular cross section of the end 27,28.
• Said central portion has a flat surface 26A suitable to contact a portion of the second face of an arm.
• the ends 27,28 are inserted in holes of the body 4 and are adapted for enabling a substantially free pivotment or rotation of the rod with respect to the body, (see figures 9 and 10)
• the blocking means 17 is advantageously provided with a first means 29 pivotably mounted with respect to the blocking means 17 around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment (shaft 11) of the first arm 13, said first means 29 having a flat surface 30 adapted to contact a flat portion of the first face 13A of the first arm at least when the first arm is blocked partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position, and - a second means 31 pivotably mounted with respect to the blocking means 17 around an axis parallel to the axis of pivotment (shaft 12) of the second arm, said second means having a flat surface 32 adapted to contact a flat portion of the first face of the second arm 14 at least when the second arm is blocked partly outside of the opening between its first position and its second position.
• the blocking means comprises a body 33 provided with a first recess 34 adapted for receiving the first means 29 and a second recess 34 for receiving the means 31.
• Said recesses 34 extend between two legs 35,36, said legs having two grooves 37, 38 having a form corresponding to a portion of a circular path.
• the means 29, 31 have the form of a half cylinder provided on its lateral face with a pin 39,40, intended to be inserted in a groove respectively 37,38.
• the pins 39,40 and the grooves 36,37 are architected so that the body 33 is able to rotate around the central axis B-B of the cylinder corresponding to twice half cylinders, (see figures 11 to 13).
• the second face 13B of the first arm' 13 comprises a flat portion which is parallel to and contacts a third inclined face 41 of the chamber 6 when the first arm extends in its first position (said face 41 being adjacent to an upper edge of the axis A-A), while the second face 14B of the second arm 14 comprises a flat portion which is parallel to and contacts a fourth inclined face 42 of the chamber 6 when the second arm 14 extends in its first position (said face 42 being adjacent to an upper edge of the axis A-A).
• the first means 23pivotally mounted on the body 4 is located between the first inclined face 19 of the body 4 and the third inclined face 41 of the body 4, while the second means 24 pivotally mounted on the body 4 is located between the second inclined face 20 of the body and the fourth inclined face 42 of the body.
• the inclination (angle ⁇ ) of the first and second inclined faces with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A (with respect to the axial symmetrical plane S) of the body 4 is about 75°, while the inclination (angle ⁇ ) of the third and fourth inclined faces with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body is about 30°.
• FIG. 14 A detail of the end of the support 10 is shown in figures 14 and 15.
• said end comprises a hollow pipe 41 provided with a head 42, said head having four plates 43 A,43B forming a cross with a central opening 44.
• the plates 43 A are provided with a passage 45 wherein a portion of a shaft 11,12 is inserted.
• the plate 43 A is inserted between two legs 46 of the arm 13,14 provided with cutting means 15.
• An arm provided with two rows of cutting means 15 is shown in figure 16.
• the diamonds 15A of the first row 151 are placed with respect to the circular cutting paths of the diamonds 15B of the second row 152 so that the diamonds 15A act on a portion of the face of the well which is located between two adjacent cutting zones with the diamonds 15B.
• the arm 13,14 is also provided with diamonds 15C on its lateral face and with diamonds 15D at the free curved end of the arm .
• the legs 46 are provided with a passage in which a portion of a shaft 11,12 is inserted, (see figures 16 to 19)
• the system is also provided with means for controlling the movement of the support 10 and the blocking means 17.
• the system is provided with pivoting means 23,24, 29,31, it is possible to block the arm in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.
• the controlling means 50 is for example adapted for varying substantially continuously the position of the arms, and thus the enlargement of the well bore.
• the system of figure 1 is mounted at the end of a drill pipe, and a stabilizer is attached to the system of the invention.
• the system is engaged in the drill pipe with the arms 13,14 located in the chamber 6.
• the controlling means (comprising jacks 50A acting against the action of springs ) is actuated so as to move downwards XI the support 10 with respect to the body 4.
• the support 10 is placed in a position corresponding to the required inclination of the arms (i.e. for having the required enlargement diameter).
• the blocking means is moved upwardly (the flow of fluid containing bentonite flow within the chamber 55, whereby the volume of said chamber 55 is expanded.
• the fluid escapes the chamber 55 through nozzles 56,57.
• the pipe 58 attached to the blocking means is moved upwardly in the central passage of the support 10.) so as to contact the arm and to block them between the means 23,24 and the means 29,31.
• the rotation of the drill pipe 3 will cause the rotation of the system 1 and of the arms 13,14, whereby the cutting element will cause an enlargement of the bore.
• the stabiliser is advantageously used for causing or facilitating the downwards movement of the system in the well bore.
• a fluid (advantageously containing a bentonite) is injected below the cutting means for ensuring an upwards movement of the particles and stones produced during the cutting.
• the arms 13,14 form advantageously an angle with respect to the axis A-A, when the arms are in cutting position, said angle being advantageously comprised between 30° and 80°, preferably between 45° and 70°.
• the blocking means is moved downwardly (no or substantially no bentonite flow being made) (figure 3). Thereafter the controlling means act on the jacks for moving upwardly the support 10, whereby the arm 13, 14 are blocked within the chamber 6 (figure 4).
• the first arm has a protuberance with a lateral end face corresponding to a portion of the lateral face of a cylinder centered with respect to axis of pivotment of the arm with respect to the support element
• the second arm has a protuberance with a lateral end face corresponding to a portion of the lateral face of a cylinder centered with respect to axis of pivotment of the second arm with respect to the support element
• the support element having a first recess in which the first protuberance extends and a second recess in which the second protuberance extends, said first recess having a face contacting at least partly the lateral end face of the protuberance of the first arm, while said second recess has a face contacting at least partly the lateral end face of the protuberance of the second arm.
• Figures 20 and 21 are view of a detail of a preferred embodiment of a movable support 10.
• the plates 43 A provided with the passage 45 for a shaft 11,12 on which is mounted an arm 13,14 are associated with an extension 52 of the plates 43B.
• Said extension is provided with an end face 53 having the shape of a portion of a cylinder centered with respect to the axis C-C of the passage 45.
• Each plate 43 A is associated with two extension 52, one on the left side, the other on the right side.
• the support 10 of figure 20 is adapted to cooperate with arms 13,14 with legs having end face following a portion of a cylinder, said end face contacting the end face 53.
• the control means 50 of figure 1 can be replaced by a control means actuated by the flow rate of liquid through the drill pipe, whereby the system can be operated without problem from the ground.
• the control means 50 shown in figure 23 comprises an outer hollow cylinder 60, an indexer 61 located in said hollow cylinder 60, said indexer having a central channel 62 ending in a smaller channel 63 and having two side channels 64 at the junction J of the channels 62 and 63.
• a rod 65 extends at least in the channel 63, said rod being attached to the cylinder 60 by a shaft 67.
• a carrier 68 is movable along the rod 65, said carrier extending with a rod 69 bearing at its end a plate 70 connected to the support 10.
• a spring 71 extend between the plate 70 and a support element 72 attached to the cylinder 60.
• the plate 70 is connected to the support element by means of a jack or cylinder or a rod (not shown) for actuating the movement of the support 10.
• the jack or cylinder located between the plate 70 and the support element can be independently actuated, so as to control the position of the support.
• the movement of the plate ensures for example the movement of the support 10 between a position ensuring a minimum possible pivotment of the arms ( pivotment operated for example when the closing means 16 abut against the arms) and a position preventing any pivotment of the arms, while the jack or cylinder actuates the movement of the element 10 so as to control the possible pivotment of the arms between a minimum possible pivotment and a maximum pivotment position.
• the cylinder 61 is provided with a lateral groove 73, the development of which is shown in figure 25.
• Said groove 73 has valleys 73 A substantially at a same level and peaks 73B situated at different levels, level LI for the closing position of the arm 13,14 (upwards movement of the support 10), level L2 for measuring the opening angle of the arms 13,14 or for positioning the arms, and Level L3 for the working position.
• a pin 75 attached to the cylinder 60 moves in said groove 73.
• the indexer 61 is in position closing the arms 13,14 into the chamber 6. In said position, the fluid FL flows in the channel 63, whereby the indexer is moved downwardly against the action of the spring 71. In this position, no fluid FL flows through the passages 64.
• the indexer is in position for measuring and/or adapting the dimension of the enlargement, i.e. the diameter D or the angle of the arm 13,14.
• the indexer or indexing means is in position for the working of the system for enlarging the diameter of the bore. In this position , the fluid flows through the passage 64.
• the flow rate of fluid is increased so as to move downwardly the indexer 61 against the action of the spring 71, so that the finger or pin 75 is moved in a valley 73 A.
• the spring acts on the indexer so that the pin 75 extends in a peak of the indexer.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Drilling And Boring (AREA)
• Drilling Tools (AREA)
• Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-06-01 WO PCT/BE2001/000096 patent/WO2002097231A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-06-01 US US10/479,475 patent/US7195080B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-06-01 EP EP01940025A patent/EP1395730B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-06-01 AT AT01940025T patent/ATE310893T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-06-01 CA CA002487874A patent/CA2487874C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-06-01 DE DE60115297T patent/DE60115297T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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